Central Toledo blaze leaves 4 homeless

A house fire in central Toledo early today has left four people, including three children, homeless, authorities said.

There were no reported injuries, according to the Toledo fire department.

Amanda Aldrich, a spokesman for the American Red Cross Northwest Ohio Region, said volunteers responded to the fire scene but were not helping the fire victims -- an adult and three children -- because the victims had insurance and didn't ask for assistance. Volunteers will be available to help the family should they need assistance in the next few days, she said.

Fire crews arrived about 7:40 a.m. and saw flames coming from a single-story wood frame house at 1612 Avondale Ave. near North Detroit Avenue. Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 8:57 a.m,. at which time they left the scene, a fire dispatcher said.

The Lucas County auditor's web site lists Terri Cable as the owner of the house. It was built in 1905.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. The damage estimate wasn't available.